If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

NAA .22 magnum mini-revolver (too cool not to share)

ADVERTISEMENT

Just wanted to share with you prototype pics of an upcoming single action mini-revolver from North American Arms. It should be out within the next few months. Now if you're familiar with these things, you'll know that a big drawback is in the loading because you have to take the cylinder out and then use the extractor pin to remove fired casings. Then you have to put it back together in just the right way, which is inherently risky. They had a limited run of a break top action mini-revolver a few years ago, which developed a sort of cult following. These were limited to 500 pieces and cost 500 bucks. NAA actually lost money making these because of the cost of machining such an intricate mechanism on a small frame like the mini-revolvers. In the end, that's what killed the breaktop Ranger (that was the name). Because of the rarity of these pieces, they've been sold for upwards of 2 grand a piece, and sometimes even more. This brings me to the Sidewinder. The Sidewinder is the spiritual successor of the Ranger, but instead of a breaktop action, it uses a traditional crane so the cylinder swings open like almost all revolvers on the market today, with the exception of the Schofields.

And let's not turn this into a caliber war. This topic wasn't meant about caliber choices. This is just a neat little thing I wanted to share with you guys. I for sure will get one, and it will either be a range toy or ride back up to a full size hole puncher, my HK45. EDIT: It'll be 350. There will be a .22lr conversion available for 80.

These are prototype pics. The final version is confirmed to be more dehorned. Also the area that juts out towards the front, right behind the extractor will be shaped differently. It juts out because the crane couldn't fit on the standard .22 magnum frames. It swings open to the right, which apparently is normal for single actions.

Credit goes out to bladeforums Meluck for the last two pics here. I asked him to stop by the NAA booth at the NRA St. Louis show.

There's a vid of a guy shooting a .22 lr (much weaker than .22magnum) out to 50 yards. So a .22 magnum could definitely do the same. I can't find that vid though so this will have to do. Not 50 yards, but still reasonably far at 100 feet.

Pretty cool, I wish they made their larger models ( Earl,Mini-master ) with this type of cylinder. I've wanted a larger NAA as a kind of trail/woods bumming pistol but I'm not for certain how much I'd like having to take the cylinder out to reload even though it's faster than loading your typical SA revolver through a loading gate.

Pretty cool, I wish they made their larger models ( Earl,Mini-master ) with this type of cylinder. I've wanted a larger NAA as a kind of trail/woods bumming pistol but I'm not for certain how much I'd like having to take the cylinder out to reload even though it's faster than loading your typical SA revolver through a loading gate.

There is apparently a .32 in the works. There is a pretty bad picture floating around of a model that's speculated to be a .32. The desire is for a .32 with a swing out crane or a loading gate. Whatever info is out right now is only known to a select few people that have been sworn to secrecy. Who knows what's in the works for NAA?

I carry a .22mag in my pocket most of the time (deep backup). I'm impressed with the above range video. Once he started shooting he got 3 rounds in about 2 seconds. Not bad for one hand manipulation of the single action.

Called my dealer the other day and told him I want the first Sidewinder he can get.

RE: Accuracy. I had a Freedom Arms version of the NAA mini revolver. It was just as accurate as any modern revolver. The trick is shooting it to it's potential.

Bob Munden popped a balloon at 200 yards with one on Impossible Shots. (I saw it, but I still don't believe it.) He must have been holding 15 to 20 feet above the target.

He also popped a ballon at 200 yards with a S&W model 60 in .38 Special. Jerry Miculek did the same thing holding his 2" S&W .38 upside down. He said that he was holding 18 feet above the target.

Absolutely. Everyone tends to underestimate a .22 whether mag or LR. I'll bet these things are accurate enough at sub 100 yards in the right hands. I might have to find one. I love little revolvers.

For example, my dad used to be able to pretty consistently hit bowling pins at 150 yards with his Ruger Mark II non-target, tapered barrel .22. It wasn't the long barrel either. It's all about holding above the target and finding your point of aim. Once we figured it out, my brother and I could hit them at 100 yards with the same pistol, and we were probably 10 and 8 at the time. It's all about POA.

The naa mini mag is awesome. Once you get use to pulling the cylinder out and reinstalling it the procedure is not that big of a deal but that sidewinder is definitely a game changer. I read an article years ago where the author likened the quality of the construction of the naa mini to that of a porsche.